Delineating International Cooperation in the Fight against Cybercrime in Cameroon

Authors

  • Kwei Haliday Nyingchia Judge and Examining Magistrate High Court Ndian and Associate Lecturer, Higher Technical Teachers Training College (HTTTC) Kumba of the University of Buea, Cameroon
  • Clinton Atabongakeng Fobellah PhD Fellows, Department of English Private Law, University of Bamenda, Cameroon
  • Elvin Fuwain Ndiwum PhD Fellows, Department of English Private Law, University of Bamenda, Cameroon

Keywords:

Cybercrime, Cooperation, Extradition, Internet, Mutual judicial assistance

Abstract

The advent of new technologies and the increase in their use have ushered in a new chapter in how things are being done in contemporary society. Though plausible, it has also paved the way for crimes (cybercrimes) to be committed through electronic means on a global scale. This has greatly undermined the territorial integrity of nations, and it poses a significant problem to the global community in general. Currently, the effect of cybercrime is something the global economy cannot afford to ignore. It has increased security risks of critical infrastructures, brought about massive privacy invasion and attacks on businesses, and state security. It is difficult to stop crimes of this nature since technology is always evolving and the world is becoming more connected. It therefore requires a well-coordinated and concerted effort from governments around the world to contain crimes of this nature. It is in this line of reasoning that the Cameroon government has made significant strides through the 2010 law on cyber security and cyber criminality (Hereafter referred to as the Cyber Law) to foster cooperation with other nations in a bit to curb the spread of cybercrime in Cameroon. Despite so, the efforts are not sufficient and the prevalent nature of these offenses today still largely smashed government efforts to the ground. This paper sets out to examine the efficiency of the measures taken by the Cameroon Government to forge international cooperation with the aim to combat cybercrime.

References

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[ ] Ibid, article 34(1).

[ ] Article 28 of the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection.

[ ] States like Cameroon, Nigeria, South Africa and a host of others are not party to the convention. See full list at <https://au.int/sites/default/files/treaties/29560-sl AFRICAN_UNION_CONVENTION_ON_CYBER_SECURITY_AND_PERSONAL_ATA_PROTECTION.pdf> Accessed April 24th 2023.

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[ ] Article 2(1) of Act No. 4342 of March. 8, 1991, as Amended by Act No. 11690 of March 23, 2013 on International Judicial Mutual Assistance in Civil Matters.

[ ] See Part IV of the cyber law.

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[ ] Elaborated in the Vienna based United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Division for Treaty Affairs, Treaty and Legal Affairs Branch (UNODC/DTA/TLAB) in accordance with General Assembly resolution 53/112 of 9 December 1998. Earlier drafts of the model law were reviewed in two Expert Group Meetings on the Elaboration of Model Legislation on Mutual Legal Assistance, organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in cooperation with the International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences (ISISC), and hosted by ISISC in Syracuse, Italy, on 30 November-3 December 2004 and 28-29 November 2005 respectively. UNODC also held two informal expert group meetings in March and November 2021 to update the Model Law on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters (2007) to include materials on the use of special investigative techniques and the gathering of electronic evidence, including the abuse and exploitation of minors in illegal activities with the use of the Internet. The new model law came into force in May 11 2022. Available at; <https://www.unodc.org/documents/commissions/CCPCJ/CCPCJ_Sessions/CCPCJ_31/CRP/E_CN15_2022_CRP6_e_V2202980.pdf> Accessed September 4th 2023

[ ] Ibid, section 9(2).

[ ] Ibid, section 9(3).

[ ] Section 91(1) and (2) of the Cyber Law.

[ ] N. A. Patricia. “Mutual Legal Assistance in Cyber Matters: Issues and Challenges for Cameroonian laws”, (n 22), pp 391-411.

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[ ] Section 651 of the 2005 Criminal Procedure Code. [Hereafter referred to as the CPC]

[ ] Ibid, section 91(3). The appropriate authority in the case of Cameroon would be the State Counsel or Examining Magistrate with territorial jurisdiction.

[ ] Ibid, section 92(7).

[ ] Ibid, section 92(1).

[ ] Ibid, section 93(1).

[ ] Ibid, section 93(2).

[ ] Ibid, section 93(3).

[ ] A. Anthony, Handbook of international law. Cambridge University Press, 2005, p264. Also, see section 635 of the CPC.

[ ] See C. Robert, H. Friman, et al. An Introduction to International law and Procedure (n 13) p 92. See G. Griffith and C. Harris. “Recent Developments in the Law of Extradition”. Melbourne Journal of International Law, Vol. 6 No1, pp33-54, May 2005. Also, see B. Matthew. “A Comparative Analysis of the United States’ Response to Extradition Requests from China”. The Yale Journal of International Law, Vol. 33, pp 177,186, 2008. However, if courts were to supervise the integrity of the judicial system of other sovereign nation to ensure human rights are observed, such acts would conflict with the “principle of comity” see Jhirad v. Ferrandina US Court of Appeals 12.4.1976 para. 22; 536 F.2d 478.

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[ ] Extradition Act 67 of 1962.

[ ] Extradition Act (Modification) Order, 2014 & the Federal High Court (Extradition Procedure) Rules, 2015.

[ ] UN Office of Drugs and Crimes. “Country review report on Cameroon” Review cycle 2010-2015, United Nations publication, Vienna, pp10-11. Also, see the case of Ebong Aloysius Tilong v The United State, cited at US Department of Justice website. Available at <https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/fugitive-extradited-cameroon-united-states-serve-80-year-prison-sentence> Accessed January 18th 2023.

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[ ] Section 644 of the CPC. Also, see C Robert, H. Friman, et al, An Introduction to International law and Procedure (n 13), p 92. Relating to the denier of extradition request on grounds of human rights purposes.

[ ] This condition is in conformity with the principles of dual criminality under international law.

[ ] Section 642(1)(a) of the CPC.

[ ] Ibid, section 642(1)(b).

[ ] Ibid, section 642(2)(a).

[ ] Ibid, section 642(2)(b).

[ ] Section 6 of Extradition Act, 1966.

[ ] Section 650(1), (2), (3) and (4) of the CPC.

[ ] Ibid, section 651.

[ ] Ibid, section 18(2).

[ ] A. N. Patricia. “Mutual Legal Assistance in Cyber Matters: Issues and Challenges for Cameroonian laws”. (n 22), 405.

[ ] Section 653(1) of the CPC.

[ ] Ibid, section 652(2).

[ ] Ibid, section 654.

[ ] Ibid, section 655.

[ ] Ibid, section 656.

[ ] Ibid, section 657(1).

[ ] Ibid, section 657(2).

[ ] Which is to deposit a sum of money, the amount and condition of payment is fixed by the examining magistrate considering the defendant’s resources OR provide one or more securities in line with section 224 and a refrain from the professional activity if the Magistrate is of the opinion that the continuation of those activities may cause him to commit another offence.

[ ] Section 659(1) of the CPC.

[ ] Ibid, section 659(2).

[ ] Ibid, section 660(1).

[ ] Ibid, section 659(3).

[ ] Ibid, section 666.

[ ] Ibid, section 664.

[ ] "General Secretariat". Accessed March 15th 2023.

[ ] The 71st INTERPOL General Assembly, 21-24 October 2002, Yaoundé, Cameroon available at Accessed March 15th 2023.

[ ] INTERPOL Database available at <https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Databases> Accessed June 3rd 2023.

[ ] Section 2 of Interpol Constitution 1956 as amended in 2022.

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[ ] Suit No. FHC/L/229C/2008.

[ ] Section 90(1) of the cyber law.

[ ] Presentation of ANTIC, available at <https://www.antic.cm/index.php/en/the-agency/presentation.html> Accessed March 11 2023.

[ ] Antic’s partnership agreements available at <https://web.antic.cm/antic.cm/index.php/en/component/k2/item/67-antic-and-cto-sign-partnership-agreement> Accessed March 11th 2023.

[ ] E. Rogers. The Legal Response by Cameroon and Regional Communities to Cybercrime, LAP Lambert Academic Publishing; Illustrated edition, February 13, 2015, p1.

[ ] See African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection status list available at https://au.int/sites/default/files/treaties/29560-sl-AFRICAN_UNION_CONVENTION_ON_CYBER_SECURITY_AND_PERSONAL_DATA_PROTECTION.pdf Accessed September 15 2023

[ ] A. N. Patricia “Mutual Legal Assistance in Cyber Matters: Issues and Challenges for Cameroonian laws”. (n 22), p 399.

[ ] Section 90(2) of the Cyber law.

[ ] According to article 35 of the Convention, States shall benefit from network of practitioners which is simply a 24/7 network of contact point which provides immediate assistance for the purpose of cybercrime investigations, proceedings or the collection of electronic evidence in other jurisdictions. Also, the second Additional Protocol has, inter alia, lay down means through which authorities of member nations can directly cooperate with private entities of other states to receive domain registration information or subscriber data. It also allows a member state to obtain testimony of experts and witnesses who are located in other jurisdiction and initiate joint investigation teams via videoconferencing.

[ ] The commission have the locus standi to enter into agreement with other states to help carry investigations, supply technical resources, help train, and equip experts of other nations to better fight cybercrime in their country.

[ ] Section 90(1) of the cyber law.

[ ] A. N. Patricia. “Mutual Legal Assistance in Cyber Matters: Issues and Challenges for Cameroonian laws”, (n 22), at, 409.

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Published

2023-09-25

How to Cite

Nyingchia, K. H. ., Fobellah, C. A., & Ndiwum, E. F. . (2023). Delineating International Cooperation in the Fight against Cybercrime in Cameroon. International Journal of Computer (IJC), 49(1), 30–45. Retrieved from https://www.ijcjournal.org/index.php/InternationalJournalOfComputer/article/view/2114

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